momentarily

[ moh-muhn-tair-uh-lee, moh-muhn-ter- ]

adverb

1. for a moment; briefly:

   to pause momentarily.

2. at any moment; imminently:

   expected to occur momentarily.

3. Now Rare. instantly.

momentarily

/ -trɪlɪ; ˈməʊməntərəlɪ /

adverb

1. for an instant; temporarily
2. from moment to moment; every instant
3. very soon

Word History and Origins

Origin of momentarily¹

First recorded in 1645–55; momentary + -ly

Example Sentences

Foster momentarily fooled reporters this week when asked how well he knew White and Rhule.

From Los Angeles Times

On Tuesday, the company hit a peak valuation of roughly $10.3 billion, making it momentarily more valuable than Elon Musk’s X, the Guardian reported.

From Salon

His reward was another booze-fueled locker room celebration in which he emptied beers on his teammates and momentarily set aside the burden of genius he carries with him almost every day.

From Los Angeles Times

Rogan finally asked, leaving Trump momentarily speechless.

From Salon

The “So What” and “Raise Your Glass” singer has momentarily put her tour on hold, announcing over the weekend that she has pushed back shows in Lincoln, Neb.;

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• briefly
• immediately
• instantly
• temporarily